However, Coun Barry Henley (Lab Moseley and Kings Heath) said there was little difference between the two plans.

He has called on council chiefs to allay the fears of residents that the new facility will be out of keeping with the Grade ll listed Moseley Hall and the local conservation area.

Coun Henley and Martin Mullaney (Lib Dem), the two local councillors on the planning committee, voted against the proposals with two other members. However, six councillors backed the plans.

Coun Henley said: "The committee was subjected to ridicule by the South Birmingham Primary Care Trust on our site visit when we were lectured that the NHS was not 'in the business of providing open spaces for the community'.

"How sad that this lack of social responsibility has now destroyed a landscape that survived unscathed for over 200 years. How unfortunate that the elderly patients will not have the therapeutic benefit of pleasant views or spacious gardens for a stroll as they recover.

"Despite receiving planning permission the Trust should think again because the damage they are about to do to the landscape will be mirrored by the harm they are doing to relations with the local community.

" Simple changes could minimise the footprint and incorporate sympathetic materials." The Trust's chairman Dr Jonathan Shapiro said he was "delighted" that the proposals for a threestorey block and six singlestorey wards were given the go-ahead.

He added: "The speed of events around the initial plans meant these did not involve residents in the way that they normally would have done.

"However, I know these amended plans have incorporated as many views as possible, including those of residents."